102. Pen Caer (Strumble Head) – Porthgain

102. Pen Caer (Strumble Head) – Porthgain

Distance: 14.3 miles

Max Altitude: 136 m

Min Altitude: 3 m

Height Gain: 590 m

Height Loss: 624 m

Bless me, bloggers, for I have sinned. It’s been….er, quite a few days since my last post. My last walk, although only 10km in distance had left me banjaxed in mind and body (or feet more specifically). So I decided to rest. That coupled with never ending technical troubles have led to a shabby upkeep of this blog.

My feet have never warranted this much attention in my entire life. But each night I peel my socks off and stare at them wondering exactly what is going on beneath the surface. I don’t think I want to know. All I do know is that they hurt, badly, constantly.

As for what’s going on in my mind, well, that’s also a blank. I am feeling a little more refreshed than I had been. But in truth, I am shattered. I’ve been walking since June and yes, it has taken its toll. However, I shall plough on to the finish line even if I have to do it on all fours at 1 centimetre increments!

Back to the trail then….

The starting point for today was, as ever, where I left the Wales Coast Path a few days ago on my rubbish feet – Pen Caer or Strumble Head.

What a location eh? Yet another lighthouse to add to my burgeoning collection too. And you know how I love a lighthouse, reader.

I wasn’t the only one to appreciate the area either. Dozens of people had come for a visit, armed with cameras, tripods and binoculars. With the sun shining and the skies a happy blue, who could blame them?

I couldn’t hang about though and got on my way. Every few steps I kept looking back to see what I’d left behind.



It wasn’t hard to be in a good mood today in spite of my feet. I mean, just look at the surroundings.

A few days ago I was lucky enough to have a seal-filled walk. I encountered them around every cove and corner. And although they weren’t quite as prevalent today, I did spot them once again sunning themselves on the secret beaches below me. Delight!

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It was a truly glorious day, rugged and wild. How lucky we are in Wales.

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How about this for a view to eat your sandwiches to. Better than a computer screen eh?

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I didn’t see many people, just one or two. It felt as though I had the entire path to myself.

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I was approaching the twin little and large beaches of Aberbach and Abermawr.

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I had another sit down here.

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Now, although I was surrounded by glorious scenes of nature throughout the day, the going was tough underfoot. And that’s no exaggeration. It was up and down constantly. And boy did my feet know about it.

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And as well as the ascents and descents, the nature of the terrain was at times tricky. It alternated between rock and stone, and muddy sog due to rain.

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It was evening by the time I made my way into Abercastell. The terrain and the state of my feet had slowed me to a snail’s pace. But hey, I was still going!

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One thing I love to see on my travels are the various types of houses on the Wales Coast Path. So many and so varied. I adore to see gardens decorated with the various maritime gubbins of buoys and ropes like this one on the way in to Abercastell.

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I could have stopped in Abercastell, and in many ways I probably should have. But I decided to continue. Don’t ask me why. Maybe it was the sunset beckoning me onwards. Maybe I just wanted to go ‘a proper distance’.
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As I rounded past Trefin the sun sank deeper into the sea in a deep honey and russet. I decided to walk the extra mile or so to Porthgain. After all, it would be foolish to waste such a sky. I definitely made the right decision.
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And so it was that I arrived into Porthgain as the last beams of orange sunlight spread out across the water. I stopped and just took in the scene before me.

Only now did I decide to stop. I watched the sun disappear completely and hobbled towards The Sloop for a drink. In spite of the pain, I felt content. Yes, I had managed to walk more than 14 miles and climbed almost 2000 feet. But really, that was beside the point almost. I had seen some of Wales’ finest coastline in its best light, witnessed seals in their natural habitat and experienced an epic sunset too.

Pretty much a perfect day’s walk.

5 thoughts on “102. Pen Caer (Strumble Head) – Porthgain

  1. Dal i fynd! Rydan ni gyd efo ti bob cam. Wel, na, dydi hynna ddim cweit yn wir. Ond rydan ni efo ti drwy gyfrwng y blog gwych ‘ma, yn gweddio dros stâd dy draed di. “Un cam ar y tro…” i diwn Trebor Edwards.
    Meddylia amdanon ni sy’n dal yn gaeth i bali sgrin cyfrifadur!

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